Fracture splint



March 24, 1931. J. L. PRESTON 1,797,481

FRAGTUFE SPLINT I 2 Sheets-Shet 1 Filed May 7, 1929 A TTORNE Y.

March 24, 1931. J. 1.. PRESTON FRACTURE SPL INT Filed May 7, 1929 2 Sheets-Shem- 2 c blfiv l. Pits Siam,

1N! "ENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 24, 1931 PATENT OFFICE JOHN LEWIS PRESTON, OF WIQHI'IA FALLS, TEXAS FnAo'runE SPLINT application filed May 7, 1929. Serial No. 361,138.

co-pending application bearing Serial No.

352,264, filed April 3, 1929.

One of the important objects of the present invention is to provide a fracture splint which includes complementary wire interdental splint members that can be readily and easily applied in position in' the mouth of the patient so that the necessity of taking impressions of the mouth is eliminated, the wire inter-dental splint'members being capable of use for any kind of fracture involving the body of the mandible, providing some teeth are present in the mouth forattachment.

Another important object. ofthe invention is to provide a fracture splint offthe abovementioned character wherein early fixation of normal occlusion and immobilization of the jaws during the process of healing is afforded by the use of the present invention.

A still further object is to provide a frac- V ture splint of the above-mentioned character wherein inelastic ligatures are employed for fastening the maxillary and mandibular bars together for the purpose of re-establishing' normal occulsion' and immobilizatmn of the jaws during the process of healing.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fracture splint of the above-mentioned character wherein the maxillary and'mandi bular bars may be properly fastened in position against the upper and lower teeth respectively and in such a manner as to present a neat appearance and-without causing any discomfort to the wearer. V

A still further object is to provide a fracture splint of the above-mentioned character which is simple in construction, inexpensive,

strong and durable and further well adapted for the purposes for which it is designed.

Other objects and advantages of the in vention will become apparent from the followlng description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters indicate correspond- 5i in parts throughout the same:

*igure 1 is a side elevation of the fracture splint embodying my invention showing the same positioned in the mouth of the patient and further illustrating the manner in which 55 the maxillary and mandibular bars are fastened together.

Figure 2 is a front view for further illustrating the inelastic ligatures for securing the maxillary and mandibular bars together (K and further illustrating the means for securing said bars to the respective teeth.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional View therethrough.

Figure 4: is a top plan view of the inner and outer mandibular bars showing the interconnecting means therebetween. extending 7 around the adjacent teeth in the mouth of the patient. Y I

Figure 5 is a detail perspective view of the m maxillary bar per se; and

Figure 6 is a similar viewof the inner and outer mandibular bars and the connecting means therebetween.

1n the drawings wherein for the purpose 7;, of illustration is shown the preferred embodiment of my invention the numeral 1 designates generally the mandibular splint unit, the same comprising the inner and outer bars 2 and 3 that are preferably formed of gold so wire, the same being bent into substantially U-shaped formation to conform to the contour of the lower set of teeth. Enlarged blunt heads 4 are formed on the free ends of the complementary inner and outer'U-shaped 85 .members' for the purpose of protecting the gums against injury by the ends of said U- shaped members. 7

The inner and outer U-shaped members'2 and 3 are interconnected through the medium 9&-

of finer Wires 5 and these wires 5 further provide a means whereby the lower splint unit may be fixedly secured in position with respect to the lower teeth. In adjusting the mandibular splint unit, it is firmly grasped with the fingers and pushed down over the teeth to approximate position in the mouth. On the side opposite to the point of fracture, a rubber dam clamp is inserted over the bicuspid or molar tooth to hold the splint unit 1 securely while ligating the same on the opposite side.

The ligature wires 6 are so bent .asto, be disposed through the inter-proximal space between the teeth and underneath the inner or lingual bar,then the end of the ligature wire 6 is picked up and brought over the lingual bar and directed through the next inter-proximal space buccally, engaging the tooth as well as both splint bars 2 and 3. The excess wire. is cutoff and the ends of the ligature wire are twisted tightly tothe attached tooth. 'Thisprocess of ligating the wire splint unit 1 is repeated to as many teeth onv both sides of the'j'aw as necessary to insure fixation as suggested very clearly in Figure 4 of the drawings. The wires 5, which are malleable and. criinped-so as to be extensible, are merely employed for maintaining the inner and outer mandibular bar elementsin thevproper. spaced relation to which they are adjusted with respecttoxeach. other, and theterminals of the crimped ends of the wires 5may be soldered totrhe U-shaped members 2 and 3 adjacent the freeends there:

of to provide a unitary structure.

The maxillary bar which isshown generally at 7 in Figure 5 is also formed from. a piece of gold wire that is bent into substantially U-shaped formation to conformto-the shape of theupperset of teeth and this max1l-- lary bar 7- has its ends provided with heads 8 similar to theheads a and for the same purpose the heads l.

The maxillary bar 7 is preferably disposed against the outer faces of the upper teeth directly adjacent the gum and wire ligatures 9 similar to the wire ligatures 6 are associated with this maxillary bar 7 for securely fastening the same to the upper teeth. v

After the upper and lower splint units have been properly attached to theupper and lower teeth respectively, in elastic ligatures in the form of strands of wire 10 are looped around the maxillary bar 7 and the adjacent portions of the outer mandibular bar 3 and the free ends of each ligature wire 10 are. twistedv together in the manner clearly suggested in Figures 1, 2 and 8 of. the drawings. In this manner, normal occlusion is.

re-established, and. immobilization of the jaws during the process ot healing is lnsured. Should it become necessary to open the patients mouth after final adjustment of the splint units, as for the removal of a tooth, to treat the fracture or to replace a broken wire ligature, it is only necessary to cut the wire loops interconnecting the maxillary and outer mandibular bars with a pair of scissors. This can be done without disturbing the retention of the splint and when desired, reclosure of the mouth can be re-established by relooping the maxillary and outer mandibular bars together.

A fracture splint of the above-mentioned character may be made in different sizes to accommodate mouths of various sizes and furthermore due to its simplicity, my improyed splint will be at all times positive and eflieient in carrying out the purposes for which it is designed. The splint will furthermore present a neat appearance and will not cause any discomfort to the patient while being worn. The splint is constructed to provide a sanitary appliance'and whenever desirable, themouth can be washed out without disturbing the retention Of the splint.

lVhi-le I have shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that minor changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appendedv claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a fracture splint of the class .de scribed, a mandibular splint unitincluding inner and outer bar members for disposition against the respective faces of the lower; teeth, crlmped malleable 'WlIQS connecting. said bar members together, wireligatures' fixedly securing said units to the lower teeth, anupper splint embodying a ban member for engagement with the outer surfaceswof the upper. teeth, wire ligatures fixedly securingrthe,

upper splint toithe upper teeth, and separate wire loops securing the upper bar member and the adjacent outer bar member of the mandibular unit together.

2. In a fracture: splint of the class described, a-mandibular splintunit including inner and outer bar. members for disposition respectively against the inner and outer faces of the lower teeth, inverted-U-shaped wire ligatures fixedly securing said unit to the lower teeth, an upper splint embodyi-ng a barmember for engagement with the wires connecting said bar memberstogether,

outer surfaces of the upper teeth, wire liga-.

t-ures fixedly securing the upper splint to the upper teeth, and inelastic means for securing the outer bar member, of the mandibular splint unit and the bar memberof the u splint together, said last-mentioned means comprising wire loopspassed' around. the

outer bar member of themandibular splint unit and-the upper splint and-having theirends twisted together.

3. In a fracture splint of the classdepper 

